First: Don’t panic. You aren’t breaking out from tretinoin. You’re extracting years of skin baggage. That pustule? It was a sleeper agent. Tretinoin just woke it up.
TRETINOIN BEFORE AND AFTER | FULL TRETINOIN EXPERIENCE my journey from
Second: Moisturize like your life depends on it. A dry face purges longer. Slather on a thick, fragrance-free cream. Your skin barrier is a fortress—don’t let tretinoin break down the walls.
Third: Stop adding acids (salicylic, glycolic, all of them). That’s like throwing gasoline on a grease fire. Let tretinoin do its solo act. It’s a diva—it doesn’t share the stage.
When Does the Purge Actually End? (Real Talk)
You’ll know it’s over when pimples stop appearing in new places. If you’re only breaking out where you usually break out, that’s purging. If a zit pops up on your nose (where you never get zits), that’s irritation—back off the product.
The final sign: no more new spots for three consecutive days. Then your skin enters the “Glow Zone.” That’s when your boyfriend, mom, or random barista says, “Wow, your skin looks amazing!” You’ll cry. It’s a happy cry.
